In the Fall of 2006, Carleton College's Cinema & Media Studies Department will lead an Off-Campus Studies program exploring New Media in New York, London, Amsterdam and Berlin.The term New Media designates technological art forms and art-making techniques—particularly those associated with computers and the Internet—that have emerged in the last two decades. The seminar will visit museums, galleries, artists and critics in four of the world's leading art cities. In addition to engaging art and ideas first hand, students will make New Media themselves. With cameras, audio recorders and laptops on our hips, we will produce projects reflecting our discoveries.

THE PROGRAM will feature three courses for 16 credits:

1. DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCTION WORKSHOP: Students will develop and execute projects in video, photography, audio or web design reflecting their experiences on the seminar, or other topics approved by the instructor. The seminar will maintain a daily blog on which media works and writing will be posted. Projects will be tailored to each individual's skill set and technical resources, and students will be encouraged to work in teams where appropriate. [6 Credits]

2. UNDERSTANDING NEW MEDIA: This class will be organized around our extensive engagement with the exhibitions, artists and critics encountered on our travels. The class will mix reading, discussion and critique. Because access to the wireless Internet is widespread in Europe, students are encouraged to equip their laptops with wireless cards so that they may easily conduct research on the Net and post individual critical responses to our class weblog. [6 Credits]

3. READING THE DIGITAL ARTS: During the weeks before travel, students will undertake a reading program that will ground them in New Media history and theory. We will read key texts by authors like Lev Manovich, Howard Rheingold, Christine Paul and others. [4 Credits]

PACKING: Because a majority of students now own laptop computers, and thanks to a dramatic decrease in the cost of digital still and video cameras, this will be the first Carleton seminarin which all participants take digital media production on the road. We will carefully match student skills, interests and technology to insure that everyone has a challenging project in photography, web design, video or audio. While it is ideal if students can bring their own laptop, media software, camera, WiFi card, and outboard memory, this is not a requirement. The Seminar will have its own equipment, and many students will enjoy teaming up and sharing resources on projects.

FEELS LIKE: Chocked full and way busy, so don’t come with a holiday mentality. In addition to formal class meetings, our days will be filled visiting more museums, galleries and art works than you ever imagined. And expect to work hard on developing and executing smart, creative responses to what you are learning. Plan to descend on a major international capital with a pack of ravenous art-locusts, devouring everything New Media in a couple of weeks, then moving on to engorge intellectually and creatively the next city.

OUR DIGGS: The seminar will spend roughly two and a half weeks in each of four cities. Students will stay in double, triple or quadruple rooms in a carefully selected residential hotel or international student housing. While we may take an occasional side trip outside our four cities, such trips will be neither frequent or extensive. Where possible, the seminar will designate a long weekend in each city so that students wishing to travel elsewhere in a particular country may do so at their own expense.

APPLICATIONS: Students will apply for the seminar in the first weeks of spring term, 2006. Students will complete a written application, including letters of recommendation from faculty or staff at Carleton. From this group selected students will be invited for a formal interview. Students selected for the seminar will be announced before the time for spring registration for the fall term of 2006. If you have questions, please contact Carleton Off-Campus Studies.

Program Leader: Professor John Schott